Alt azimuth swivel construction

ABSTRACT

A swivel joint fitting for lighting fixtures comprises a tubular mounting base telescopingly connected by a swaged rotatable joint to a housing for relative axial rotation therewith through an arc short of 360* as the azimuthal swivel component. A ball, mounted in the housing and having a stem extending through a semicircular slot in a dome-shaped end of the housing, provides movement through an arc of 180* as the altitudinal swivel component, permitting a full right angular bend. A compression spring simultaneously provides frictional drag of predetermined force against the altitudinal and azimuthal movement.

D United States Patent 1151 3,679,236 Warshawsky 1 1 July 25, 1972 [s41ALT AZIMUTH SWIVEL 3,186,736 6/1965 Warshawsky ..285/39 CONSTRUCTION2,298,176 10/1942 Schwartz ....285/DlG, 8 2,632,660 3/1953 Krauthamer..285/D1G. 8 [72] Inventor: Jerome Warshawsky, 3285 Bertha Drive,

B 1 1510 Primary ExaminerThomas F. Callaghan [22] Filed, 0c! 16 1970Attorney-Ernest A. Greenside [211 App]. No.: 81,393 [57] ABSTRACT Aswivel joint fitting for lighting fixtures comprises a tubular [52] US.Cl ..285/39, 285/164, 285/184, m nting base tclcscopingly connected by aswaged rotatable 235 232 2g5 8 287/12 joint to a housing for relativeaxial rotation therewith through 51 1111.01 ..Fl6l27/00 an arc 0f as theazimuthal Swivel p A 58 Field ofSearch 285/010. 8, 164, 282, 39, 184;ball. mounted in the housing and having Stem extending 287/12, 21 37through a semicircular slot in a dome-shaped end of the housing,provides movement through an arc of 180 as the altitu- [56] ReferencesCited dinal swivel component, permitting a full right angular bend. Acompression spring simultaneously provides frictional drag n ES P E S ofpredetermined force against the altitudinal and azimuthal movement.3,104,897 9/1963 Berger ..285/D1G. 8 3,204,990 9/1965 Blakely ..285/282X 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures /5@ /5! 5d 41 Me U 1 4 i I we A62 2% Add.53 l4c Z .5 /2 d /7 d /6 6 4 6 U8. ff //a PATENTEDJULZS m2 3.679.236

IN VEN TOR. 1/5 ROME WHR'SH/QLUSKY ALT AZIMUTH SWIVEL CONSTRUCTIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to swivel joint fittings through which electric wiring extendsand more particularly to the accomplishment of a substantially universalmovement including a full 90 bend in almost any direction by combiningaltitudinal and azimuthal relative movement.

2. Description of the Prior Art This invention is an improvement of theswivel joint fitting described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,l86,736wherein, as in many of the other prior art devices, the axial bend islimited to much less than a right angle. Other prior art devices utilizea double ended ball and socket to accomplish the desired right anglebend, while other alt-azimuth swivels in current use utilize pivot pins,which this invention seeks to avoid, and have trouble in maintaining theset positions of the swivel, being subject to accidental displacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of the invention is toprovide an altazimuth swivel joint fitting of improved constructionwhich shall avoid the disadvantages of, and objections to, the prior artdevices hereinbefore mentioned. The swivel comprises few and simpleparts, namely, a base, a dome-shaped housing, a swivel ball memberhaving a stern, a sleeved washer and a compression spring, all havingaxial bores for the passage of electric wiring therethrough, and, exceptfor the spring, which may be machined from bar stock brass or the liketo provide a high quality, dependable and readily usable unit formanufacturers of lamps. A joint, which is formed by swaging a flangeover a collar, facilitates assembly of the swivel and serves both as thesole means for retaining the parts in such assembly under preset springpressure and for providing relative axial rotary movement between thebase and dome-shaped housing as the azimuthal swivel component. The stemof the swivel ball member projects through a semi-circular slot formedin the housing with the ball portion riding between one face of thewasher and the interior dome-shaped surface of the housing. Thecompression spring, acting between the opposite face of the washer andthe interior surface of the base, simultaneously exerts pressure on theball portion and rotary joint providing a predetermined friction dragagainst accidental displacement from desired set positions of theswivel. One or more thin flat washers may be interposed between thecompression spring and the interior surface of the base to reduce theefiective friction drag on the azimuthal swivel component for easieroperation of the swivel without sacrificing any of the weight carryingcapability of the altitudinal swivel component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side fragmentary view of alamp assembly showing the swivel joint fitting embodying the inventioninterposed between a wire conduit type lamp arm or section and a lampreceptacle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the swivel joint fitting taken in sectionsubstantially on line 22 in FIG. 1 showing the parts prior to assembly.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the swivel joint fitting removed from theassembly as seen on line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4, and 6 are sectional views taken on lines 4-4, 5- 5 and 6-6,respectively, in FIG. 3 showing details of the interior construction,and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the swivel joint show in FIG. 3with parts in section, the ball member, which constitutes thealtitudinal component, being shown in one of its two extreme positionsto effect a right angular bend.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to thedrawing, 10 denotes an alt-azimuth swivel joint fitting constructed toembody the invention seen to comprise a mounting base 11, the upper endof which extends into a housing 12, a compression spring 13, a sleevedwasher 14, and a swivel ball member 15, all contained in the housing 12.

Mounting base 11 is a tubular structure having an axial bore Ila, thelower or free end of which may have internal threads 11b for screwmounting onto an end of a lighting fixture or lamp conduit C in the wellunderstood manner. The upper end of base 11 may have a bore portion 11cof reduced diameter to provide for an interior sleeve lld upstandingfrom an inner shoulder lle. An outer shoulder llf is downwardly steppedfrom inner shoulder He, carries an upstanding pin 16, and forms a topsurface for a collar llg which extends radially to provide a roundedexterior undercut llh shown in FIG. 2. A longitudinal exterior slot I 1:is formed in base 11 to terminate a short distance below undercut llli.

Housing 12 has a central bore 12a which is slightly constricted at theupper end by a semi-circular slot 12b formed in dome 12c and enlarged atthe lower end by counter bore 12c forming a shoulder 12d which faces andaligns with outer shoulder llfof base 11. As seen in FIG. 3, collar llgsnugly fits into counter bore and the rim edge 12f thereof is inturnedor swaged around collar Hg and into undercut 11/1 to form an axiallyrotatable joint between base 11 and housing 12 as the azimuthalcomponent of swivel 10. Shoulder 12d carries an upstanding pin 17 whichis radially located to engage pin 16 carried on outer shoulder llf. Pins16 and 17 may be made of flat spring metal rolled into split cylindersfor easy insertion and retention in holes suitably drilled in therespective shoulders 11 f and 12d in the well understood manner.

Swivel ball member 15 has an axial bore extending through stem 15d andterminating in a central enlargement formed as a diametric slot 15bwhich divides the ball portion into a pair of spherical segments 15c.Stem 15d, which is generally cylindrical in shape and has externalthreads lSe thereon, is formed with opposite flattened sides 15f whichengage the opposite planar wall surfaces of slot 15b to prevent relativeaxial rotation of ball member 15 with respect to housing 12.

Sleeved washer I4 is sized to snugly fit bore 12a of housing 12 and hasopposite flat faces 14b from which coaxial short sleeves [46 extendsurrounding axial bore 14a. Faces 14b and sleeves 14c may be symmetricalwith respect to each other to avoid the necessity for orientation ofwasher 14 during assembly of swivel fitting 10. As is clear from FIG. 3,edges 15g of spherical ball segments [50 ride on the upfacing washerface 14b with its sleeve 24c sized and shaped to extend into diametricslot 15b. Compression spring I3 is sized to accommodate the opposite ordownfacing sleeve 14c of washer l4 and the interior sleeve lld ofmounting base 11 in the bore thereof as centering means, fiat surfaces13a formed on the opposite end coils engaging washer face 14b and innershoulder lle.

Assembly of swivel fitting 10 is readily accomplished by positioning theparts on a mandrel in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, and bringinghousing 12 down onto mounting base II against the action of spring 13 sothat rim edge 12f extends below collar 1 lg for inturning by a swagingoperation.

The practical operation and utility of swivel joint fitting 10 will nowbe apparent. After assembly, and if desired, after being polished,plated, lacquered or otherwise finished, swivel fitting I0 is ready forincorporation in a lamp construction, for example, by interposition as auniversal joint between a relatively fixed electric wire conduit or lamparm C and a lamp receptacle R, as shown in FIG. 1. Electric wiring W iseasily threaded through the bore of fitting 10 when ball member 15 isdisposed in axial alignment with housing 12. A nut 18 may also bethreaded onto stem 15d to tighten against the collar of receptacle R.The portion of longitudinal slot lli, seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 to extendbelow inturned rim edge 12f, serves as an anchoring means for the hookof a suitable spanner wrench which may be used in the well understoodmanner to tighten mounting base 11 on conduit C without marring thefinish.

The extension of washer short sleeve 140 between ball segments 15c,which the former engages adjacent edges 15g, counteracts and preventsball segments 150 from collapsing toward each other under thecompressive force of spring 13.

In operation, alt-azimuth fitting will impart substantially universalmovement to receptacle R with respect to conduit C, namely, theazimuthal component as a reciprocatable axial rotation of housing 12 onbase 11 through an arc of about 350, limitation being effected by pin 17being brought into abutment with pin 16 at opposite ends of the arc, andthe altitudinal component as a pivotal movement of the ball portion ofmember in housing 12 through an arc of 180 whereby full right angulardisposition between the axes of housing 12 and member 15 is achieved inthe two extreme positions of stem 15d in semicircular slot 12b as willbe clear from HO. 7.

Compression spring 13 is constructed and arranged to exert apredetermined pressure both on washer l4 and inner shoulder lle ofmounting base 11 sufficient to retain the weight of receptacle R and itslight bulb and shade (not shown) in any adjusted position, yet toprovide smooth pivotal movement of ball member 15 in housing 12 andsmooth rotational movement of the latter with respect to mounting base11 when changing position. To compensate for the greater frictional dragrequired by the altitudinal component to support a desired weightcarried by stem 15d as compared to the drag required in the azimuthalcomponent, a relatively stronger spring 13 may be used and its efiect onthe azimuthal component reduced by the interposition of one or more,preferably two, smooth flat thin washers between spring flat surface 13aand inner shoulder I 1e, For the sake of clarity one such washer isshown in FIG. 2 seated on inner shoulder lle. These two washers providetwo additional interfaces where slippage can occur, thereby reducing theapplied torque requirements for the rotational movement.

The improved alt-azimuth swivel joint fitting herein disclosed is seento achieve the several objects of the invention and to be well adaptedto meet conditions of practical use. As various possible embodimentsmight be made of this invention, and as various changes might be made inthe disclosed construction, it is to be understood that all mattersherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A swivel structure comprising a dome-shaped housing serving as anazimuthal component of the swivel and being formed with a semi-circularslot in the dome, a base in alignment with a bottom end of the housingopposite its dome, said bottom end of the housing being secured to saidbase for rela- 'tive axial rotation only with respect thereto, a swivelball member serving as an altitude component of the swivel andcomprising a stem having one end portion adapted for connection to areceptacle and an opposite end portion terminating in a ball memberpositioned entirely within said dome-shaped housing with the stemextending through said semi-circular slot for pivoting movement thereinthrough an arc of 180, a

washer coaxially mounted within the housing in abutment engagement withsaid swivel ball member, and a compression spring coaxially mountedwithin the housing and acting between the washer and said base forsimultaneously providing a friction drag of predetermined force on saidrelatively rotary and pivoting movements.

2. The swivel defined in claim 1 in which second thin flat washer meansis interposed between said spring and base to reduce the comparativefriction drag on the azimuthal component.

3. The swivel defined in claim I in which said securing of the base andhousing is a swaged rotary joint serving as the sole means for retainingthe parts in assembly.

4. The swivel defined in claim 3 in which said swaged joint comprises aradial collar formed on said base and having a rounded undercut annularedge, said housing bottom end having a bore snugly engaging the collarand terminating in a free edge turned into the undercut about therounded edge.

. The swivel defined in claim 4 in which a longitudinal exterior slot isformed in said base extending through said radial collar to a pointspaced downwardly from said swaged joint to serve as anchoring means fora spanner wrench.

6. The swivel defined in claim 3 in which said swivel ball member has anaxial bore enlarged at the inner end thereof to provide a pair ofspherical segments having rim edges engaging said washer, the latterhaving an axial sleeve extending between said spherical segments toprevent collapsing of the segments by pressure exerted by saidcompression spring.

7. The swivel defined in claim 6 in which said washer on its springcontacting face has a second axial sleeve symmetrical with respect tosaid first mentioned sleeve, said base having an axial bore and aninterior sleeve surrounding said bore, said second axial sleeve and saidinterior sleeve extending into the core of said spring as aligning meanstherefor.

8. The swivel defined in claim 6 in which said swivel ball member stem,said axial bore enlargement of the ball member and said housingsemi-circular slot are constructed and arranged to permit full rightangular disposition between the axes of said housing and said ballmember stem in the altitudinal component of the swivel.

9. The swivel defined in claim 3 in which said base has a top wallpositioned within a counter bore of said housing forming a shoulder,said top wall having an inner shoulder and a stepped outer shoulder, thelatter facing and being concentrically aligned with said housingshoulder and spaced therefrom, a pin upstanding from each of saidaligned shoulders extending into said space to engage each other as alimit to the rotary motion.

10. The swivel defined in claim 9 in which said swivel ball member stemis formed with opposite flattened faces engaging the walls of saidhousing semi-circular slot to prevent relative rotation between saidball member and housing.

11. The swivel according to claim 1, wherein the swivel ball member andsaid base are each of larger axial extent than said housing.

1. A swivel structure comprising a dome-shaped housing serving as anazimuthal component of the swivel and being formed with a semi-circularslot in the dome, a base in alignment with a bottom end of the housingopposite its dome, said bottom end of the housing being secured to saidbase for relative axial rotation only with respect thereto, a swivelball member serving as an altitude component of the swivel andcomprising a stem having one end portion adapted for connection to areceptacle and an opposite end portion terminating in a ball memberpositioned entirely within said dome-shaped housing with the stemextending through said semi-circular slot for pivoting movement thereinthrough an arc of 180*, a washer coaxially mounted within the housing inabutment engagement with said swivel ball member, and a compressionspring coaxially mounted within the housing and acting between thewasher and said base for simultaneously providing a friction drag ofpredetermined force on said relatively rotary and pivoting movements. 2.The swivel defined in claim 1 in which second thin flat washer means isinterposed between said spring and base to reduce the comparativefriction drag on the azimuthal component.
 3. The swivel defined in claim1 in which said securing of the base and housing is a swaged rotaryjoint serving as the sole means for retaining the parts in assembly. 4.The swivel defined in claim 3 in which said swaged joint comprises aradial collar formed on said base and having a rounded undercut annularedge, said housing bottom end having a bore snugly engaging the collarand terminating in a free edge turned into the undercut about therounded edge.
 5. The swivel defined in claim 4 in which a longitudinalexterior slot is formed in said base extending through said radialcollar to a point spaced downwardly from said swaged joint to serve asanchoring means for a spanner wrench.
 6. The swivel defined in claim 3in which said swivel ball member has an axial bore enlarged at the innerend thereof to provide a pair of spherical segments having rim edgesengaging said washer, the latter having an axial sleeve extendingbetween said spherical segments to prevent collapsing of the segments bypressure exerted by said compression spring.
 7. The swivel defined inclaim 6 in which said washer on its spring contacting face has a secondaxial sleeve symmetrical with respect to said first mentioned sleeve,said base having an axial bore and an interior sleeve surrounding saidbore, said second axial sleeve and said interior sleeve extending intothe core of said spring as aligning means therefor.
 8. The swiveldefined in claim 6 in which said swivel ball member stem, said axialbore enlargement of the ball member and said housing semi-circular slotare constructed and arranged to permit full right angular dispositionbetween the axes of said housing and said ball member stem in thealtitudinal component of the swivel.
 9. The swivel defined in claim 3 inwhich said base has a top wall positioned within a counter bore of saidhousing forming a shoulder, said top wall having an inner shoulder and astepped outer shoulder, the latter facing and being concentricallyaligned with said housing shoulder and spaced therefrom, a pinupstanding from each of said aligned shoulders extending into said spaceto engage each other as a limit to the rotary motion.
 10. The swiveldefined in claim 9 in which said swivel ball member stem is formed withopposite flattened faces engaging the walls of said housingsemi-circular slot to prevent relative rotation between said ball memberand housing.
 11. The swivel according to claim 1, wherein the swivelball member and said base are each of larger axial extent than saidhousing.